How to do BIG things that freak you out

My wife and I have a recurring conversation around our house. It goes something like this.

Me: “You know that new project I’m working on?”

Her: “Of course.”

Me: “When I started, it seemed like a really awesome idea. But now I can’t help but feel crazy for even trying.”

Her: (smiles)

Me: “I mean, I know it could work, and it could be really awesome… I guess I’m just freaked out.”

Her: “Awesome. That’s how you know you’re on the right track. Don’t let the Resistance get you!”

She’s right you know. Because every big idea you have is susceptible to the Resistance. In fact, the sole purpose of the Resistance is to keep you from doing big, scary things. It hates change. It hates risk. It wants to keep you comfortable.

But comfortable won’t get you anyplace worth going.

If you want to do something amazingly awesome, you’re going to have to face the Resistance. In fact, when you meet the Resistance it’s a good indication that you’re on the right path!

How to do defeat the Resistance and do big things

I used to think my inexperience is what caused me to struggle with the Resistance. But learning from guys like Seth Godin and Steven Pressfield has taught me the Resistance will never go away. Ever.

So what do you do?

1) Acknowledge it’s real

It’s never going away, and pretending you don’t feel it won’t help either. Something about trying to ignore a force so powerful seems to cause problems. Instead, acknowledge the Resistance is there. Admit that you’re afraid and uncomfortable.

Then remember this truth,

“The more important a call or action is to our evolution, the more Resistance we will feel toward pursuing it.”

2) Start anyway

Now begin your work. Not when the time is right. Not when you feel better. Now.

Starting is the biggest blow you can ever hope to hurl at the Resistance. The Resistance grows stronger the longer you let it hang around so the quicker you can throw this punch the better your chances of success.

3) Repeat daily

If you’re working on a big project that takes a number of days or weeks to complete you’re going to fight this battle daily. You’ll defeat the Resistance one day and make some progress only to find it’s back the next. Only now it’s bigger, stronger, and has new tactics.